10 questions to ask yourself..are you ready???
If you've thought about competing first consider this list and tell yourself HONESTLY if you are ready.Are you ready:

1. To eat your food absolutely anywhere- when it's feeding time, you have to eat. I eat in cars (a LOT), business meetings, airports, conferences, restaurants (meaning, pull out your own tupperware in a restaurant!)

2. To eat for nutrition only- can you stomach room temperature chicken breast and egg whites?3. To answer the same inevitable questions over and over- What kind of contest? Like a beauty pageant? What are you eating? What IS that?

4. To be made a spectacle- WOW! You sure do drink a lot of water, don't you? Oh, no, she doesn't want any, she doesn't eat. WHAT IS THAT you're drinking?

5. To be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted- with no reprieve until it's over. Oh yea, and hungry. YOU WILL BE HUNGRY.

6. To say no and miss out- on parties, dinners, get togethers, trips, vacations, holidays, celebrations.

7. To faulter in other parts of your life- your family, friends, work, other hobbies WILL all suffer to some degree.

8. To have almost no one understand. Be prepared to feel very alone, no matter how many internet friends or real life people you know preparing for a competition. You will still feel alone.

9. To be unhealthy. Don't fool yourself into thinking this is a healthy lifestyle. You will put your body through truly unhealthy measures to achieve. Be prepared for the emotional hurdle after a competition of going from 8% bodyfat (unhealthy) to a healthy, maintainable 12-14%. It's tough.

10. To feel the most amazing sense of accomplishment and pride. To know that you wanted it worse than everyone else, and you took it. To achieve what most people won't because they don't have the drive, determination and real desire to get there, but YOU DO!

list courtesy of fellow competitor, Amy Leavitt....It is right on!

I got this off the Oxygen forum. From time to time I will post some things like this that really hit home for me. At another time I will post an article about what to expect post-comp. I have to admit, it does have me a little worried. It can be an emotional time. I really do think that it will be worth it though. I am happiest when I have a goal and am working towards it. Thanks for reading!